Mark Your Calendars: The Found Footage Festival Returns to Memphis Next Week

Posted by Holly Whitfield |
April 9th 2013
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The Found Footage Festival, a touring ode to funny, forgotten VHS, returns to Memphis next Monday for one night only.

Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett have spent more than 20 years combing thrift store bins and garage sales in search of forgotten gems from the golden age of VHS. They've got two rules: the footage must in a physical format (because there's no fun in searching for lost YouTube clips); and the footage has to be inadvertently hilarious. Or, as they put it, "Whatever it’s trying to do, it has to fail miserably at that."

The Found Footage Fest has come to Memphis before (in 2010 and 2011), and having gone to both shows, I can full on vouch for the show's greatness. Pickett and Prueher introduce and give commentary as they show off the greatest bits of their collection.

This year, the show returns to Studio on the Square (a much better venue for this than the Young Ave. Deli) and features all new (old) found footage.

Still not sure if this is something you're into? Watch this gem, described thusly: "This religious exercise video from 1986 stars the chipper Marie Chapian, who recites bible verses while leading her flock of lycra-clad Christians in leg lifts. All the while, an increasingly distracting soundtrack accompanies the “cardiovascular fitness unto the Lord.”

Or this one, starring Rue McClanahan:

If you don't want to miss this, buy advance tickets or plan on getting to Studio on the Square early. The past two FFF shows have been sell-outs.

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Author: Holly Whitfield

I write about what’s going on with Memphis music, food, arts, events, sports, people, and culture. Memphians love Elvis and barbeque with a passion that must be seen to be believed, but there is so much more to this place.